If you want to occasionally buy on ebay, maybe start with a couple of small purchases, things that are eg $20 or so, just to build up a slight good buying record.
I had a look at that ad and it says he could deliver to many areas in Vic. Note: it didn't say all of Vic, just 'many locations'.
This is one very cautious seller. Keep in mind he doesn't appear to have sold anything for over a year either & this is currently his only item on sale and its a big sale.
Plus he has 42 watchers for this item.
Why he didn't just list as pick up only, I do not know, but I get the feeling he may even be willing to deliver it himself (for a freight price), depending on where the buyer is located.
I am guessing he is ignoring you as he is worried about being scammed. You need to realise that if he sold to you and sent it to Sydney, all you have to do is open an ebay claim that it was not as described or faulty in some way and whoosh, ebay would demand he issue a postage label to you, you would be refunded and he would be out of pocket all the ebay fees. Plus as you are new, for all he knows you may not even send back the original item.
All that could happen with any buyer, I suppose, which is why I get the sense he may be arranging delivery himself.
It is poor form for him not to at least answer you (yes, he is still alive, I would be willing to lay bets) & it does sound as if you are a genuine buyer but you are in Sydney anyway so it may be easier for you to just move on to another seller.
They won't all be like this.
